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By Lee Siew Fai
You
too can Teach! III
The Powerful Conceptual Tools
My previous two writings had started
off with a poem. In Soccer, a player gets a hat-trick for scoring three goals in
a match. Similarly, in the game of Cricket, a bowler claims a hat-trick if three
batsmen are bowled out from three consecutive balls. I too have an eye on the
“hat-trick ovation” and prepared a small fun poem using the young ages of
chess players. Hats ready to be taken off to cheer me on? Don’t believe me? I
shall sneak you a little preview on how I relate to their tender ages…
I am sixteen
am I keen?
I am fifteen
very much preen!
Hang on! I am not looking for hats taken off. In
this week’s writings, the correct move is for gloves to be taken off! And do
the POWER SHOTS of reading you the RIOT ACT!
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RIOT ACT 1:
The Seven
Keystones are designed for youngsters and children below the age of SIXTEEN. If
you are not below sixteen, it is best for you to tune down your mind to be
in-step with the thinking and reasoning capacity of the below sixteen. Once you
can do it, you are in a position to switch between your matured mind and that of
the below sixteen so that you can be both an efficient learner and an effective
teacher.
For those that are
genuinely below sixteen, do read on and understand as much as you can. There is
no time limit for you to reach the stage of complete understanding and become
confident in your own savoir-faire.
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With the above Riot Act read, here is
The Powerful and The Most Extreme conceptual tools that make the Keystones
shine. My son likes to watch the Astro’s Learning Channel on The Most Extreme
of “anything” and the countdown starts at “ten” towards the most extreme
“number one”. Here, I do it in reverse and begin with the “Most Extreme”
thus setting the forceful tone of the Powerful Keystones.
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1)
The Power of ONE PAGE!
This is really E X T R E M E.
The complexity of chess reduced to only ONE PAGE! And indicates the
visible completeness to everything on competitive chess! And to have the
chess player be forever guided by this ONE PAGE!
Note: This powerful tool is
borrowed from the academic stipulation on presentation of research papers.
Be it in hundred of pages, or in the thousands, the research or
dissertation findings must be offered in a ONE PAGE executive summary or
abstract that must say it all!
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2)
The Power of the Checklist!
This powerful tool qualifies in
the second spot. It provides a systematic recall to the completeness in
competitive chess. Nothing is left to chance. Everything is there to be
recollected even in the most stressful of conditions.
Note: This dominant tool is
adapted from the aircraft’s flight deck operational procedures whereby
pilots are required to physically view, read, and act by the checklist
even if it is an emergency. No exception. Nothing gets missed. That’s
good airmanship.
During the game of chess in
competition rules, the checklist can only be visualised and reflected in
the mind. Everything gets evaluated. That’s good “chessmindship!”
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3)
The Power of Countdown!
Need I say more? Everything
work towards the lift-off into glory! The “Progressive Engagement” of
the mind had to be attuned to bring down the wall of resistance in
learning and excelling in the game. What better way then to set the goal
of a successful launch and get the mind to believe in reaching the
blast-off ambition! |
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4)
The Power of Theme!
Each and every Keystone has a
theme that can be used to guide the learner into the realm of
competitiveness. Chess has
been conventionally demarcated into Opening, Middle and End game. The
Keystones refuses to be straitjacketed. Instead, learners are encouraged
to hop and skip between Keystones in meeting the challenges of playing
competitively. In simple crude language, I had done away with the fixation
of believing that chess is an all-or-nothing in the functionality of
opening play and opening systems.
Note: Using theme to
drive home the message has its roots in many specialised field. I will not
delve into its utility. The Malaysia Government visionary message of
“Vision 2020” is a good example. |
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5)
The Power of the Erupting Mind! Reasoning!
Having seen and experienced how
some children tend to have no response from persistent teaching, and,
suddenly sprang into life is the most beautiful and joyous growth phase
for the child. As a trainer, I fully relish in its eruption. All children
are like volcanoes. You just don’t know when they will fire-up.
Persistence is the key to tap into their mental growth. Reasoning is the
crucial ingredient we must capture. Confronting change successful is the
most critical factor for a chess player in his/her playing career.
Therefore, reasoning must be emphasized ahead of memory!
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6)
The Power of the Erupting Mind! Memory!
Every child has a powerful
memory. We should not be too overtly worried about this ability. Using too
much of this power at too early an age is not good for the chess playing
child! Having walk past a game between two children, and on the board, is
played the first sixteen moves of a well-known opening. Not a single move
missed. They are playing like Grandmaster! Do you think they possess the
same powerful reasoning and in-depth understanding of the position? Or is
it merely the work of their memory? I must say, memory alone will give
them a false sense of winning and may not take them far in a more
competitive landscape. Memory must be enhanced only after gaining
reasoning capability over the sixty-four squares.
Hint: Reasoning is the
foundation of consistency. Memory is the pillars of strength and
stability. Together, they are the catalyst to creativity!
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7)
The Power of Positive Thoughts!
Positive thoughts lead to
positive attitude. Positive attitude give rise to “Contingency
Ownership”. Regardless whether you are a child or an adult, ownership of
learning experience is the basic footing to preserver. To persevere and be
positive at all times and at all level of play, there is NO Beginner, NO
Intermediate and NO Advance learner of the game inside the Keystones. The
child is expected to develop the skill to hop and skip from one Keystone
to another! And truly enjoys the beauty of playing chess.
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8)
The Power of Excellence!
The correct wording here is
“towards one’s OWN excellence”. No undue pressure or expectation of
the sickly AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Just enjoy the game to the best of one’s
ability. Conventional teaching (or for that matter, contemporary teaching)
attempt to seek out the strong and talented players. Dropouts, if failed
to occur naturally, will be forced upon by official and unofficial
suggestive manner. On the other hand, the Keystones prided itself as one
that allows players of varying wits to persevere and stay the course
silently until the “eruption” takes place!
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9)
The Power of Rocket Science
First, there is Rocket Science.
And then, there is much more Rocket Science! As for the Keystones, they
live on simple logic. Even super Grandmaster makes mistakes and can
blunder very badly! The Keystones allow mistakes. And much more! It is the
process of learning and exploring that counts! Mastery and Competitiveness
will come naturally…
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10)
The Power of Fairness!
Don’t you ever underestimate
this last extreme Power Tool! Many a good player had suffer from the lack
of fairness in how their prowess is being recognised and suffers the
debilitating effects of total lost of faith in the game.
Positive attitude is to prevent dropouts and fairness is to avoid
walkout!
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Here we are. The Ten Most
Extreme conceptual tools welcoming you into the world of competitive chess. And
yes! They are the perfect partners to the Seven Keystones. Each Keystone also
comes with a comparable “Dual-Core” Character Training and Game Play theme.
Attached here is the
miniaturised 2x9 table for the expert practitioner of the Seven Keystones. The
right hand side will be expanded into one page for the learner while the left
hand side is a guide to the teacher who would like to throw in their
“freestyle” character training as he/she teaches the Keystones.
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Character
Development |
Game
Play |
| 0.
Integrity |
The
Transparent 6Ms |
| 1.
Learning |
The Basic
5Bs |
| 2.
Exploring |
The
Ruthless 4As |
| 3.
Strategising |
The MI
Buffet |
| 4.
Collaboration |
The
Decisive 3Cs |
| 5.
Mastery |
The
Intriguing 2Rs |
| 6.
Readiness |
The
Overlooked 1P |
| 7.
Competitiveness |
The
Inconsolable 0E |
Much more would be revealed when we
enter into the work of the Keystones. I will take leave during this period of
EID holiday. I will be working very hard in providing relief duty to my Muslim
friends at work (just in case you forget, I too need work to make a living!) I
also like to take this opportunity to wish all the Muslim readers a happy
Aidilfitri celebration.
REMEMBER TO DRIVE SAFELY AND HAVE A
GOOD CARING HOLIDAY.
Before I sign off, I have put
together the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for those who are still very much
in doubt on how to go about using the Keystones. The list is not exhaustive and
more clarifications will be provided as the need arises.
| Frequently
Asked Questions. |
Q1)
If I run chess classes using your keystones, do I have to register with
you?
NO.
You do not have to register with us regardless of whether your classes are
run on revenue generating basis or for free. It would be a good gesture to
drop us a line for our data collection.
As
long as you are not profit taking, you are allowed to use our teaching
method for free. Collection of a reasonable amount for refreshment
purposes that does not constitute a form of revenue generation would be
most welcome to the youngsters. However in poverty stricken areas, care
must be taken that it does not constitute a burden!
For
organisations, institutions or learning centers that uses the keystones as
a draw card to their enrolment, you are at liberty to use any form of
accounting method to determine the part portion that requires you to pay
the seven percent to the charity of your choice.
Q2)
Do I have to inform you once I have paid the money to the charity of my
choice?
No.
You do not have to. We would be more than glad if you chose to touch base
with us. We can then place your good deeds in our website for the readers
to see. You will have to decide whether your identity is to be revealed or
plainly be anonymous. Both of it has its own merits. Simple reason is
that, unfortunate as it may sound; charity requires a lot of
encouragement! By posting news of your contributions, others may follow
through with your exemplary conduct of caring and giving.
Q3)
If it had come to my attention that a chess class at my locality had not
honoured the 7 percent payment, do I act as a good citizen and inform you?
No.
You do not have to. We do not expect you to question the misdeed nor
inform us of its breach. For students of Business Administration, our
offer is known as franchising and the "Seven Keystones" are our
franchised product. The "7-percent redemption" is our
franchising fees. The visible branding is "CHARITY". Our
outsourcing partner is "CONSCIENCE". Our "IP" enforcer
is "BUSINESS REPUTATION". Our "CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY" is to bring chess education to the communities
whereby children and youngsters are encouraged to indulge in healthy
activities. With these partners, our monitoring cost and transaction cost
is the prefect zero. Therefore, we do not expect ourselves to interfere
with the running of any businesses nor would like to incur any legal
liabilities.
Note:
The biggest fear of any business entity is when their valued customers
voted with their feet!
For
those that have paid and would not like to be implicated as being
unethical, your premise's notice board check is the cheapest form of
defence. Just photostat the receipt of your 7 percent contribution and pin
it on the notice board! Alls well for everyone.
Q4)
I am undecided on whom to give the charity to. Could you advice me which
charity organisation that will welcome "chess" money?
No.
I cannot direct you to which charity organisation you should extend your
contributions. All genuine charities need our generous help. I have taken
great pain to avoid suggesting the charities that you should or should not
contribute to. I cannot be seen to be soliciting donations on behalf of
any specific charities. I also understand that this unbiased stand may at
times dilute the urgency to act promptly. Most of the time we can wait out
to deliberate, and then decide. But we must be aware that some charities
do survive on tight budget and cannot be left waiting. Therefore, if your
organization is run on partnership and for reasons best known to you,
still could not amicably agreed on a decision, then, and only then, may I
suggest you support my preferred charity organisation Similarly, for those
who have no prior preference, you are most welcome to throw in your
support with me. Write to us and we will forward you their contacts.
Besides,
money generated by the teaching of chess is untainted.
Caution:
We advise you to check with your local government to ascertain the charity
organisation you intend to send your donations are indeed genuine charity
organisation.
Q5)
I want my child to be a winner sometime in the future. I understand I may
have to engage professional coaching. Would your competitive Keystones
prevent him/her from becoming a champion?
No.
Great pain had gone into the Keystones arrangement. Any established
trainer will be able to rebuild his/her foundation for winning chess. I am
very certain the current crops of chess trainers in Malaysia has the
capacity to evaluate the missing finesse in game play and provide the
coaching guide to recover the missing links. Similarly, if you were from a
foreign country, qualified coaches in your area would have the same
ability.
The
"Chess Language" is common and universal!
Q6)
In your poem, you had claimed that anybody could teach. After learning the
Keystones, can my child teach too?
Yes!
Not only he can teach, there is money to be earned too! The Keystones had
reliable and recognisable common codes where teaching and learning are
mutually in synchronisation. From the onset, I have visualise the ICT
goldfield would enable the teaching of chess. The avenue to earn coupled
with electronic payment facilities would effectively make everything
borderless. The snail mail
will come into play for our less fortunate friends disadvantaged by the
digital divide. This is the promise I had made under the character
building component set outwardly in the objectives of the Launch Pad
teaching method. The ultimate would be for children to be taught how to
earn money through work and not by having a knife at someone’s neck to
relieve off their belongings.
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PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE:
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I
have been in negotiation with a local e-commerce company on the use of
their IT Platform where chess lessons can be transacted between learners
and teachers. My “home-minister” (commonly known as wife) had agreed
to use her savings to secure a main licence in thier IT cum IP outfit. By
this measure, it had secured us the legal standing to negotiate and hold
sway over their business partners in agreeing to assist us on making this
dream possible.
At this juncture, I am looking
at “Designated sub-licence” facilities to “enable” teaching and
learning of chess whereby willing buyers and willing sellers of chess
lessons can be facilitated. I am also looking at dual level 7% franchising
fees to be paid to charity. Should social or legal implication arise where
it cannot be accomplished, this collection may be redirected to the
development of chess activities. And the good news is that other income in
excess of operating cost will be converted to prizes for local chess
tournament. This I can assure you would be done at arms length and when
all matters are secured, I will invite a willing chess
player-cum-accountant to verify the accounts for public disclosure.
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